29 - Is the Tutorial Over?

When Zhaelor saw the size of the nest, he froze. His radiant smile slowly faded as he realized a serious problem: he didn’t fit inside.

The titanic cachalot tried to tilt his body, at least squeeze his head through the entrance... but it was no use. He was simply too big.

And then, his shoulders slumped. His eyes shimmered with genuine sadness.

— I… I can’t go in? — he murmured, his voice heavy with disappointment.

He stood there, just outside, like a rejected pup, his eyes glistening as if his world had just collapsed.

Krahs watched the scene, confused. He didn’t know how to feel about this ridiculous, massive being. On one hand, Zhaelor was the same monster that had nearly split his tail in half. On the other… now he looked like an abandoned dog waiting for its owner to come back from the store.

The shark crossed his arms, grumbling under his breath.

— Aren't elders supposed to be smart?

Meanwhile, inside the nest, Nexha barely had time to breathe before he was tackled by a sobbing purple blur.

— NEXHAAAAA!!! — Lilay jumped on top of him, sobbing desperately. His body trembled, and his choked cries came out in short, desperate hiccups.

— I thought I’d never see you again! I… I…!

— I’m here! I’m here! STOP CRYING ON ME! — Nexha protested, trying to wriggle out of his brother’s suffocating hug.

But Lilay clung to him like a desperate octopus.

— Your snot is getting on me! — Nexha shook himself, trying to escape the damp embrace.

Lilay only whimpered louder and tightened the hug.

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

On the other side of the nest, Nalu watched them, frozen between relief and confusion.

— But… how did you survive the orcas?!

Nexha took a deep breath, rubbing his face. He was exhausted.

— Well… — he glanced to the side, sighing. — There was something worse than them.

Nalu’s eyes widened.

— WHAT do you mean?!

Nexha shot her a look of pure exhaustion.

— Let’s just say… a crazy cachalot wants to be my servant.

For a few seconds, the nest was silent.

Nalu blinked. Then blinked again.

— What?

Thinking it was some kind of joke, she scoffed and swam outside to see for herself. But the moment she came face-to-face with Zhaelor, her skin instantly paled.

She froze.

— A-ah…

Zhaelor was colossal. His mere presence made the ocean around him feel small. His eyes gleamed with excitement upon seeing her, but for Nalu… it was a living nightmare.

Her fins began to tremble.

— W-what…?

She took a step back. And then—

— AAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!

She spun around and bolted back inside the nest as fast as she could, her heart pounding in her chest.

Meanwhile, Lilay had the complete opposite reaction.

— WOOOOOAH! — He looked at Zhaelor, his eyes sparkling with admiration.

The little one eagerly swam around the giant cachalot, his excitement bursting like fireworks.

— YOU’RE HUGE! — He spun around him, flipping in the water. — Can you carry me?! Can you teach me how to grow this big?!

Zhaelor chuckled, visibly charmed by the little one’s energy.

— Your brother is so adorable, young master! — He beamed, clearly delighted.

Nexha closed his eyes and massaged his temples.

But then, something strange happened.

He looked around, observing each of his companions.

And then he realized.

They were perfect.

Lilay, with his natural ability to win people over, could be a great diplomat or manipulator.

Nalu, with her intelligence and dexterity in crafting, could be the one to build his future.

Krahs, with his strength and leadership, was the perfect general to maintain order and protect whatever they would create.

And Zhaelor… a formidable and loyal warrior, capable of protecting him while he was still weak.

He had all the right pieces to build something great.

But… why?

Nexha froze.

— Wait… this doesn’t make sense.

They all came to him on their own. He didn’t seek out any of them.

How did this happen?

A cold shiver ran down his spine.

He remembered Luna’s words.

"You are ready to start the tutorial."

What if the tutorial was still happening?

What if everything was being manipulated to happen exactly like this?

Nexha felt a weight in his chest.

If the system could assemble all the pieces on its own…

Then why did it need him?

His heart pounded. Something was wrong.

Something he still didn’t understand.

And, for the first time, he started questioning the true purpose of the system.